Appropriations Bills (1&2) 2014-15

I thank you for the opportunity to speak on Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2014-15 and cognate bills today. There is no hiding the fact that there has been some very highly vocal and predominantly negative reaction to the budget both before it came down and at the time it came down. I had concerns as…

Young job seekers in Cairns offered a hand up

YOUNG job seekers in Cairns will benefit from the Coalition Government’s new Work for the Dole Programme, with the city being selected as one of the 18 high-priority areas across the country. Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch today announced that 18 to 30 year olds in Cairns, who have been unemployed for twelve months…

ATO calls time on Cairns office

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has confirmed that the Australian Tax Office has advised it will be closing its office in Cairns, as the office consolidates its operations from its smallest regional sites. “This is an ATO decision, not a government decision, no matter how Jan McLucas tries to spin it,” Mr Entsch said. “In fact,…

Time to dig deep for young Flynn

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch will put himself ‘under the hammer’ later this month at a fundraising auction for local youngster Flynn Rigby. Flynn will head to China in the near future for a second round of life-changing stem cell treatment and a fundraising drive is in full force. The treatment will cost $30,000…

ATE successfully showcases the region

AS the Australian Tourism Exchange draws to a close in Cairns today, Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch has congratulated Far Northerners for “pulling out all the stops” for the event. “The feedback I’ve heard over the course of the week has been incredibly positive,” Mr Entsch said. “Considering that this is the first time in the…

3 Minute Constituency Statement – Flynn Rigby

I rise to highlight this story of a very special young lad in my electorate, Flynn Rigby. At just 11 years of age, Flynn has had a very challenging life. He was born a surviving twin at 22 weeks, in November 2002. As he developed he was unable to speak and was diagnosed with autism.…

Funding to strengthen indigenous reef heritage

INDIGENOUS heritage in the Great Barrier Reef will be strengthened thanks to $70,000 in funding to develop a cultural heritage strategy and database. Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, said the announcement was part of the Australian Government investment of $1.6 million this financial year in 18 projects across…

Australian Government boost for tropical health research

THE Far North community is set to benefit greatly from a share of the Australian Government’s $25.5 million investment in the Tropical Health Research and Training facility at James Cook University (JCU). The investment forms the bulk of the Government’s $42 million election commitment for the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), with…

Let’s rally support for Flying Kangaroo reps: Entsch

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has issued a ‘call to arms’ for Far Northerners to protest against key Qantas and Qantaslink representatives in Cairns becoming victims of the airline’s restructuring, describing it as “a devastating loss and a retrograde step”. At the same time as Qantas is shutting its Cairns cabin-crew base affecting 110 employees, it…

Additional assistance for communities affected by TC Ita

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has welcomed news that further assistance is being provided to Far Northern communities hardest hit by Tropical Cyclone Ita. Additional assistance is being provided for the local government areas of Cook Shire, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire and Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire, under the jointly funded Commonwealth and State Natural…